Hair shaping device, especially a steam styling tong

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hair-styling appliance ( 1 ), in particular steam styling tongs, which has a tubular drum ( 3 ) which treats the hair, is provided with through-passages ( 2 ) and in which a heating device ( 12 ) and a dosing device ( 26 ) are formed. Upon actuation of the dosing device ( 26 ), liquid passes out of an outlet ( 18 ) of a liquid container ( 19 ) via a wick ( 17 ). An evaporating device ( 13 ) which is supplied with heat by the heating device ( 12 ) evaporates the liquid into steam, which then flows out at the through-passages ( 2 ) formed on the drum ( 3 ). The invention provides means ( 60, 19 ) by means of which, as a result of the actuation of the dosing device ( 26 ), excess liquid which may be present in the evaporator chamber ( 14 ), before the next actuation of the dosing device ( 26 ) in each case, is removed from the evaporator chamber ( 14 ) again and moved back into the liquid container ( 19 ). This arrangement only evaporates as much liquid as is desired by a user. It is also the case that it is not possible for any liquid to penetrate into the heating device ( 12 ), which would make it more difficult, if not impossible, to activate the catalyst ( 8 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a hair-shaping appliance, in particular steam styling tongs, having a tubular drum which treats the hair and is provided with through-passages, having a heating device, in particular for heating up the drum, having a dosing device, upon the actuation of which liquid passes out of an outlet of a liquid container via a liquid-channeling device, having an evaporating device which is supplied with heat by the heating device and evaporates liquid into steam, and having a steam-distributor chamber which adjoins the evaporating device and via the through-passages of which steam flows outward.

[0002] DE-C-26 31 798, for example, discloses an apparatus for the metered discharge of liquid for a hair-shaping appliance, for example steam curling tongs. For the discharge of the steam, use is made of a pumping device which is provided with an elastic diaphragm, is integrated in a water tank and, in a metered manner, feeds water to a liquid-channeling device, preferably comprising a sponge with an adjoining nozzle, where the water then ultimately comes into contact with a heating plate for evaporation purposes. In order to improve the transportation of water in the liquid-channeling device, a one-way valve may be arranged on the water tank.

[0003] DE-C-26 34 972 also discloses a hair-shaping appliance of the type described in the introduction. In the case of this hair-shaping appliance, the liquid-channeling device, preferably formed from a sponge and an adjoining tube, are inserted in a tubular housing. The tubular housing is arranged in a water tank, which can be filled with water and is likewise of tubular design, and, for the discharge of water, comprises two housing parts which can be displaced one inside the other counter to the force of a spring and, when displaced, serve for compressing the sponge and relieving the latter of loading. When the water tank is displaced counter to the force of a restoring spring supported on the drum, first of all the free end of the tube of the liquid-channeling device is brought into abutment against the heating device, until upon further displacement of the water tank, one housing part is displaced in the other housing part and compresses the sponge in the process. In this case, the sponge, for its part, discharges water, which then passes, via the liquid-channeling device, onto the surface of the heating device and evaporates there. The resulting steam passes outward into the free atmosphere via the through-passages formed on the drum.

[0004] Upon release of the evaporating device, the movable housing part is displaced away from the sponge again, on account of the prestressing of the spring, until its strike against an annular collar formed on the water tank. As stressing is relieved, air can penetrate into the chamber of the liquid container, via the equalizing bores formed on the sleeve, in order that no negative pressure forms in the chamber and no more water can thus flow out. The air taken in by suction flows around the outer surface of the sponge, on which the spring is centered, and thus passes into the chamber of the water tank.

[0005] In the case of this arrangement, it should be regarded as being less advantageous that if the evaporating device is actuated, for example, a number of times one after the other the heating device is fed more water than it can evaporate in the short period of time. Consequently, the evaporating device floods and excess water passes out at the through-passages. The result may be, on the one hand, that the hair is wetted too much but, on the other hand, also that the skin is burnt when the heated water passes out of the through-passages onto a user's skin. It is also possible, when the hair-shaping appliance is not used for a relatively long period of time, for the water located in the liquid container to flow, via the liquid-channeling device, into the steam-distributor chamber and to be capable of flowing outward, via the through-passages, there without evaporating beforehand. This may result, for example, in corrosive damage to the hair-shaping appliance or also in an excess amount of steam and/or hot water passing out when the appliance is next used, as a result of which a user could sustain burns.

[0006] JP-A-11 46839, furthermore, discloses a gas-operated hair-shaping appliance in the case of which flame-free combustion of a gas takes place by means of a catalyst for heating up the heating tube. Provided in this case too is a steam-distributor chamber which is supplied with water by a liquid container. The liquid container is provided with an exchange valve, via which air flows in when water flows out of the liquid container. As has already been mentioned above, it is also possible here, when the appliance is not in use, for water to pass into the steam chamber via the liquid-channeling device and then to pass outward via the through-passages. On account of the fact that the through-passages, which are connected to the evaporating chamber, are arranged in the hair-shaping appliance separately from the outlets, which are connected to the combustion chamber, differing temperatures may occur at various locations of the drum, i.e. the temperature at the outlets is usually considerably higher than the temperature at the through-passages. A result of this is the non-uniform distribution of hot waste gases and steam on the circumference of the drum.

[0007] DE-A-27 27 665 discloses a steam-emitting hair-shaping appliance with a control arrangement for regulating the flow-medium discharge of the type described in the introduction. In the case of this hair-shaping appliance, which is preferably designed as steam curling tongs, there is formed between the outlet of the liquid container and the evaporating device a bimetallic plate, which changes under temperature and only opens the outlet of the liquid container when a predetermined temperature is reached, with the result that water can pass into the evaporating device and evaporate there. This ensures that steam can only be emitted from the hair-shaping appliance within certain temperature limits.

[0008] The object of the invention is to develop an electric or gas-operated hair-shaping appliance, in particular steam styling tongs, according to the preamble of patent claim 1 such that the above disadvantages are avoided. The invention is also intended to achieve the situation where no liquid can pass out of the drum even in the case of the dosing or pumping device being actuated a number of times in quick succession. This should also be the case when the hair-shaping appliance is not in use. In the case of gas-operated hair-shaping appliances, the intention is also, in particular, for the ignition and combustion operations of the catalyst not to be adversely affected by liquid. The invention is intended to simplify the construction and the assembly of the hair-shaping appliance and to reduce the production costs.

[0009] This object is achieved by the characterizing features of patent claim 1. The subject matter of the invention prevents excess water from collecting in the evaporating device because, during the return stroke of the dosing device, excess water is always automatically sucked back into the liquid container again. Even when the dosing device is actuated a number of times in quick succession, these actuations cannot result in the evaporating device overflowing since during the return stroke of the dosing or pumping device, on account of the “closed” liquid tank, excess water is always sucked back into the water tank again via the liquid-channeling device. As a result of the invention, the appliance remains dry and no water can penetrate into the appliance or even pass out of the drum. An undesirably high level of steam formation is avoided by the invention. The subject matter of the invention can be used both for electrically operated and for gas-operated hair-shaping appliances.

[0010] According to the features of patent claim 2, the dosing device comprises, on the one hand, a pressure/suction pump and, on the other hand, a closed liquid container with only one outlet, which, during the return stroke of the dosing or pumping device, also performs the function of an inlet for excess water which collects in the evaporator chamber or still adheres to the liquid-channeling device as an excess droplet. Of course, it is also conceivable, instead of the liquid container provided, to integrate a further liquid container in the appliance, which is then provided with a separately working liquid-channeling device which channels excess water back into said second container.

[0011] By virtue of excess liquid flowing back immediately into the liquid container from the evaporating device, the hair-shaping appliance can be held as desired in a user's hand without liquid passing out of the drum via the through-passages. This also results in a particularly economical water-discharging device, that is to say the liquid located in the liquid container is fully converted into steam without some of the water running out of the appliance unused.

[0012] The features of patent claim 3 are provided in order to improve the operation of the evaporating device further, and in order for the water which is discharged by the dosing device during the actuation not to be allowed to escape even when the hair-shaping appliance is in the horizontal position. The chamber forms a relatively large evaporating surface and, at the same time, it retains small water droplets to better effect. It is possible here for the chamber to be of plate-like, cup-like or pot-like design.

[0013] The features of patent claim 4 result in an embodiment of a liquid-channeling device which does not expose the wick to an excessively high temperature. This increases the service life of the wick. The invention makes it possible for the first time for the wicks not to be pressed against the evaporating surface in order for it to be possible for water to be discharged in a metered manner. It is also possible, however, upon actuation, for the wick to come into contact with the evaporator plate and to be pressed against it slightly in the process.

[0014] The features of patent claim 5 make it possible for the wick to transport both liquid and air in both directions. The arrangement according to the invention allows straightforward metering of the liquid. It is not possible for the liquid to run out without the dosing device being actuated.

[0015] The features of patent claim 6 provide a large receiving surface for the liquid on the wick, with the result that, even when the liquid container is in the horizontal position, the wick is still supplied with sufficient liquid even when the liquid container is almost empty.

[0016] The features of patent claim 7 render the distance between the free end of the wick and the evaporator-chamber surface small enough for it to be possible, even in the case of only a small amount of droplet formation at the free end of the wick, for the surface of the droplet to come into contact with the evaporator-chamber surface and for parts of the droplet to flow out, these then evaporating on the hot evaporator-chamber surface.

[0017] The features of patent claim 8 bring about a particularly straightforward integration of the dosing device with the liquid container, with the result that, in dependence on the piston stroke, a correspondingly large or small amount of liquid passes out of the liquid-channeling device. In the case of this arrangement, the piston has to be displaced automatically into its starting position again, by means of a spring, in order for it to be possible at all for an automatic suction stroke to be executed.

[0018] The features of patent claim 9 result in a particularly straightforward embodiment of the dosing device integrated in the liquid container. The elastically deformable wall can easily be actuated for discharging liquid; however, it also easily moves back automatically into its original shape again, on account of its elastic expandability, in order for it to be possible for the suction stroke to be executed without a user's intervention. The elastically deformable wall may be fastened on the liquid container, for example, by injection molding, screw connection, adhesive bonding or in some other manner, but it may also be designed as a molding with the liquid container, although in this case the wall thicknesses should be coordinated with one another such that, upon actuation of the deformable wall, the liquid container itself hardly deforms.

[0019] In order that the dosing device can discharge considerable quantities of liquid, it is advantageous if the deformable wall is of outwardly curved design. The elastically deformable material and the wall thickness of the deformable wall have to be selected such that, on the one hand, these can easily be moved by hand and, on the other hand, they produce a sufficient suction-stroke action in the chamber of the liquid container, with the result that excess water which may be present in the evaporating chamber or on the wick can be sucked back into the liquid container sufficiently quickly via the liquid-channeling device.

[0020] The features of patent claim 10 are provided in order to ensure that water only flows into the evaporating chamber when the liquid-channeling device butts against the base of the evaporating chamber or, better, terminates a short distance in front of said chamber. The rigidity of the elastically deformable wall is thus selected to be high enough for the liquid container, initially without any marked elastic deformation of the wall, to be displaced counter to the force of the compression spring until the wick has reached its liquid-discharging position in the evaporating chamber. This ensures that even excess liquid which may occur during the return stroke can be channeled back into the liquid container via the wick. For easy displacement of the liquid container, the latter is fastened in a non-displaceable manner in the drum in an insulating sleeve, which is fastened in a stationary manner in the drum and—in order to avoid thermal overloading of the liquid container—is preferably produced from plastic.

[0021] In order for it to be possible for the deformable wall to be exchanged if it is worn, it may be connected to the liquid container by means of a thread, of a clip device or by means of some other releasable connection (claim 11).

[0022] The features of patent claim 12 are provided in order for it to be possible for the liquid container to be easily removed from the hair-shaping appliance in order to be filled with a liquid, preferably water or water enriched with fragrances, hair-treating substances or other materials. A locking device designed in accordance with the principle of a bayonet closure allows the liquid container to be quickly inserted and removed and, in the locked position, nevertheless releases the liquid container for further displacement in the direction of the evaporating chamber. This takes place in that at least one stub projecting radially on the liquid container, on the one hand, initially engages in a recess, when inserted, and is then secured by rotation against dropping out automatically and, on the other hand, can be moved back and forth within certain limits in the longitudinal direction of the liquid container by means of a further recess adjoining the first recess. Instead of one stub, of course, it is also possible for two or more stubs to be formed on the circumference of the liquid container, although in this case it is also necessary to introduce into the sleeve a corresponding number of recesses, which then cooperate with the respectively associated stub. This improves the guidance of the liquid container.

[0023] The features of patent claim 13 ensure that it is only when the liquid container has been removed from the hair-shaping appliance that it can be filled with water, once the closure cap has been opened. The operation of removing the liquid container from the hair-shaping appliance, which is necessary for filling the liquid container, avoids malfunctioning of, and thus possible damage to, the hair-shaping appliance, because a user is never tempted to hold the entire appliance under a water source during the filling operation. The forced separation of the liquid container from the hair-shaping appliance facilitates handling of the filling operation since, in this case, the hair-shaping appliance can be set to one side and the liquid container, on account of it being smaller than the rest of the hair-shaping appliance, can be held more easily under a faucet or a container.

[0024] The features of patent claim 14 ensure that, following actuation, the water tank is always automatically moved back into its starting position again by the force of the compression spring as soon as the actuating force applied to the elastic wall by a user decreases.

[0025] According to the features of patent claim 15, the compression spring, in addition to serving as a restoring spring for the liquid container, also performs the retaining and sealing function of the sealing ring which butts with sealing action against the liquid container and seals the evaporator chamber in relation to the bore formed in the insulating sleeve and also in relation to the liquid container. The sealing ring here butts with sliding action in the bore of the insulating sleeve, in order also to seal the evaporator chamber when the liquid container is displaced.

[0026] In the case of a hair-shaping appliance in which, during the heating operation, flaming combustion of a gas by means of a catalyst takes place, that is to say in which the heating device does not operate in dependence on an electric current, the features according to the invention from patent claim 16 achieve a particularly straightforward arrangement by the catalyst and the steam-distributor chamber being formed in a common chamber. This is because since, as a result of the invention according to patent claim 1, it is not possible for any excess water to pass into the appliance, the evaporating chamber known in the prior art no longer needs to be hermetically sealed in relation to the combustion chamber, but rather, according to a further invention, the two chambers form a common chamber. This has the advantage that the steam can mix with the combustion gases to better effect and can thus heat up more uniformly, with the result that a uniformly hot jet of steam passes out at the through-passages formed in the drum. The drum is also heated up better and more uniformly in this way.

[0027] This is because, if water droplets were to pass onto the catalyst, considerable ignition problems could occur since a comparatively large amount of ignition energy would have to be applied in order for the water located on the catalyst first of all to evaporate, in order then to ignite said catalyst for the flame-free combustion process. A single chamber simplifies the construction of the hair-shaping appliance to a considerable extent and, in addition to the abovementioned advantages, reduces the production costs.

[0028] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0029]FIG. 1 shows, on an enlarged scale, a partial longitudinal section through the front region of a hair-shaping appliance according to the invention, the dosing device being located in its non-actuated, starting position,

[0030]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the insulating sleeve with dosing device inserted therein and of the evaporator plate, albeit before this unit is inserted into the drum and the insulating sleeve is connected in a form-fitting and non-releasable manner to the drum, the unit having been rotated such that it is possible to see the region of the locking location between the liquid container and the sleeve,

[0031]FIG. 3 shows a partial longitudinal section through the hair-shaping appliance according to the invention corresponding to FIG. 1, albeit with the dosing device in the actuated position, and

[0032]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the insulating sleeve with dosing device and evaporator plate according to FIG. 2, albeit with the dosing device in the actuated position according to FIG. 3.

[0033] The hair-shaping appliance 1, which is preferably designed in the form of steam styling tongs, comprises, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, a tubular drum 3 which treats the hair (not illustrated), is provided with through-passages 2 and in the central section of which there is formed an evaporator plate 4 which, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, has diametrically opposite crosspieces 5 which run to the right and between which openings 6 are formed. The crosspieces 5 enclose an accommodating space 7, in which a tubular catalyst 8 is formed as part of a heating device 12, in which flame-free combustion of a gas (not illustrated) takes place during the heating operation, the gas passing out of a cartridge (not illustrated in the drawing) and flowing into a mixing/regulating and valve device (not illustrated either).

[0034] The catalyst 8 essentially comprises a tubular steel mesh with a surface coating which consists of platinum or palladium and on which the flame-free combustion takes place. Projecting at the free end 11 of the catalyst 8 are thin ignition filaments 9 which are produced from wire, serve for easy ignition during start-up of the catalyst 8 and thus initiate the heating operation of the heating device 12. Projecting into the opening 6 from right to left is a control rod 10, which is controlled by the temperature and, in dependence on the temperature set, controls the feed of gas to the catalyst 8 via the valve device.

[0035] Opposite the base 76 of the opening 6, an evaporating device 13 is arranged within the drum 3, said device comprising, on the one hand, an evaporator chamber 14, designed as a blind bore 15, with an evaporating surface 16. The evaporator chamber 14 is part of the evaporator plate 4 and likewise runs concentrically in relation to the drum 3. In addition, the evaporating device 13 preferably consists of a of felt or a similar air-permeable and water-permeable wick material, which forms the liquid-channeling device 17 which is fastened in the outlet 18 of a liquid container 19. The free end 20 of the wick 17 projects at the border 21 of the outlet 18. The wick 17 is compressed by the wall of the bore 22 firmly enough in order to be retained in a non-slip manner in the bore 22 of the outlet 18. The wick 17 has its other free end 23 projecting into the liquid-accommodating, preferably water-accommodating, chamber 24 of the liquid container 19 in order to form a sufficiently large receiving surface for the liquid. The liquid container 19 has not been filled with a liquid, so it is not possible for this to be designated either.

[0036] According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the liquid container 19 comprises a tube 25, of which the outer outer end is provided with a dosing device 26, while the other end, which is located in the drum 3, is provided with a sleeve 27 on the base. The outlet 18 with the wick 17 is arranged in the sleeve 27. The sleeve 27 projects into the tube 25 and is screw-connected there with sealing action by means of a thread 28 or bayonet closure (not illustrated). The sleeve 27 has a projecting annular collar 30, of which the annular surface 29, which is directed toward the dosing device 26, has an O-ring 31 supported on it, this O-ring being pressed against the free end 32 of the tube 25 and thus producing a sealed connection between the sleeve 27 and the tube 25. The O-ring 31 is retained in a stationary manner in an annular groove 33, which is formed in the sleeve 27, in order that said O-ring, when the liquid container 19 is filled, does not slide down from the sleeve 27, by virtue of the latter being unscrewed, and go missing, with the sealing of the liquid container 19 being eliminated as a result.

[0037] According to FIGS. 1 and 3, a sealing ring 35, in the bore 36 of which a compression spring 37 is retained in a stationary manner, is supported on the end surface 34 of the annular collar 30, said end surface being directed toward the evaporator chamber 14. The compression spring 37 has its other end supported on the base 38 of an insulating sleeve 39. The sealing ring 35 is produced from elastomeric material and, by way of its annular sealing surface 50, slides, with sealing action, along the inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39. At the same time, the other end of the guide sleeve 35 butts with sealing action against the end surface 34, with the result that the annular chamber 53, which is connected to the evaporator chamber 14 via the bore 52, is closed with sealing action in the direction of the atmosphere. This is because an annular space 55 is provided between the outer surface 54 of the tube 25 and the bore 51, it being possible for air to pass to the sealing surface 50 of the guide sleeve 35 via said annular space. The annular space 55 may be of very small dimensions, in order to ensure tilting-free guidance of the liquid container 19 in the insulating sleeve 39.

[0038] According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the insulating sleeve 39 is firmly connected to the drum 3 preferably by crimping. During the crimping, material 40 of the drum 3 is pressed plastically into depressions 41 formed on the insulating sleeve 39. FIGS. 2 and 4 show the insulating sleeve 39 before it is inserted into the bore 42 of the drum 3 and crimped. The insulating sleeve 39 is centered in the bore 42 by way of its outer surface 43 and strikes against the free end 45 of the drum 3 by way of its end surface 44 and, in this way, always has a fixed arrangement in relation to the drum 3. The insulating sleeve 39 encloses part of the liquid container 19, the sleeve 27 and the evaporating device 13 concentrically.

[0039] Supported, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, on the annular surface 46 of the insulating sleeve 39, said annular surface being closer to the evaporator chamber 14, is an annular felt element 47 which, by way of its other side, butts against an annular surface 48 of the evaporator plate 4. The annular felt element 47 is clamped in between the two annular surfaces 46, 48 such that it always maintains this position in captive fashion. In order for it also to be centered in the radial direction, an annular collar 49 projecting from the annular surface 48 engages on the inner surface. That end of the tube 25 which projects to the left out of the insulating sleeve 39 is provided with an opening 56, which is closed by a stopper 57. The cylindrical section 58 of the stopper 57 projects into the through-passage bore 59 of the tube 25 and is centered there. The base 60 of the stopper 57 is formed by a flexible diaphragm, with the result that upon actuation, for example by a user's finger applying pressure to it from the outside, said diaphragm deforms in the direction of the chamber 24 such that the chamber 24 is thus reduced in size and liquid is delivered into the evaporator chamber 14 via the wick 17.

[0040] An annular collar 61 is formed on the outer surface of the transition from the cylindrical section 58 to the base 60 and is pressed with sealing action, by a retaining ring 62, into abutment against the end surface 63 formed at the free end of the tube 25. The retaining ring 62 itself is firmly connected to the tube 25 via retaining noses 64, which engage resiliently in latching holes 65 formed on the outer surface of the tube 25. This connection constitutes a type of clipping or snap-in device, in the case of which the annular collar 61 is elastically deformed until the retaining noses 64 spring resiliently into the latching holes 65 and thus, in the manner of a barb, are no longer capable of sliding out of the latching holes 65. The opening 56 of the tube 25 is closed with sealing action in this way. The diaphragm 60 and the cylindrical section 58 of the stopper 57 are formed integrally from an elastic polymer material. The diaphragm 60 forms the pressure/suction pump and/or the dosing device 26 for the liquid container 19.

[0041] As can also be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, a clamp 67, which is generally customary in the case of such hair-shaping appliances 1, butts against the outer lateral surface 66 in the top region, it being possible for said clamp to be pivoted upward, in arrow direction Y, by hand on the right-hand side, about a point of rotation not illustrated in the drawing, in order for it to be possible for hair (not illustrated) to be wound around the outer lateral surface 66 of the drum 3, said hair then being clamped in between the outer lateral surface 66 and the clamp 67 by the downwardly moving clamp 67. The clamp 67 is of double-walled design and, at its free end, is closed in the forward direction by a stopper 71 engaging in the cavity 68 of the two walls 69, 70. The stopper 71 is likewise firmly connected to the walls 69, 70 by a crimping device 72. The clamp 67 runs concentrically in relation to the outer lateral surface 66 of the drum 3, as seen in cross section, and thus butts against the same, more or less flush against the outer lateral surface 66, if there is no hair positioned in the gap 73. The width of the gap 73 is at its smallest in this position.

[0042]FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate the dosing device 26 with the liquid container 19, with the insulating sleeve 39 and with the evaporator plate 4 as an installation part which has been removed from the drum 3, in order for it to be possible to show to better effect the bayonet closure 74 between the liquid container 19 and the insulating sleeve 39. Formed on the inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39, in the front left-hand section according to FIGS. 1 to 4, are diametrically opposite guide or insertion grooves 75 (these are only illustrated by dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 4) in which, when the liquid container 19 is inserted into the insulating sleeve 39, likewise diametrically opposite stubs 77, which project on the outer surface 54 of the tube 25, engage until, following further displacement of the liquid container 19 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 to the right, these stubs 77 engage in a recess 78 formed on the insulating sleeve. Upon further displacement in the direction X, the stub strikes against a ramp 79 of the recess 78 and, since the insulating sleeve 39 is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner in the drum 3, the tube 25, and thus the entire liquid container 19, is rotated in the direction of rotation U, which runs in the clockwise direction. Upon release, the liquid container 19, with the stub 77, is moved longitudinally parallel to the center axis, counter to the displacement direction X, without rotating by the force of the compression spring 37 until the stub 77 strikes against a stop surface 81 of the recess 78, which can be seen from FIG. 2. In this case, the stub 77 engages behind a blocking protuberance 82, which is formed on the stop surface 81 and prevents the liquid container 19, for example on account of vibrations acting on it, from being able to rotate automatically counter to the direction of rotation U, in which case the stub 77, in turn, could reach the guide groove 75 and thus drop out of the insulating sleeve 39. The compression spring 37 thus always presses the liquid container 19, and thus the stub 77, with prestressing against the stop surface 81.

[0043] According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the ramp 79 is adjoined by an end surface 83 which runs parallel to the center axis 80 and, with the boundary surface 84 located opposite the ramp 79 and the end surface 83, forms a gap 85 in the recess 78, in which, upon axial displacement of the liquid container 19 in the direction X, the stub 77 can engage until it strikes against the stop surface 86 and, from there on, no further displacement of the liquid container 19 is possible, as FIG. 4 clearly shows. In this position, the free end 20 of the wick 17 terminates at a small distance in front of the evaporator surface 16. The distance is only a few millimeters. It is also conceivable, however, for the free end 20 of the wick 17 to strike against the evaporator surface 16 even in the actuating position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0044] Operation and functioning of the hair-shaping appliance 1 according to the invention are as follows:

[0045] 1. Removal of the Liquid Container 19 from the Hair-Shaping Appliance 1 and Filling of Said Container with a Liquid, Preferably Water:

[0046] According to FIG. 2, the retaining ring 62 is pressed firmly by hand in the actuating direction X such that the liquid container 19 is displaced to the right counter to the force of the compression spring 37. The stub 77 lifts off from the stop surface 81 in the process. At the same time, the liquid container 19 is rotated in the circumferential direction U by hand until the stub 77 strikes against the boundary surface 86 of the recess 78 and is aligned with the guide groove 75. On account of the prestressed compression spring 37, when the hand is released from the retaining ring 62 and/or the diaphragm 60 of the liquid container 19, the latter is displaced counter to the direction X and the stub 77 slides to the left in the guide groove 75 according to FIG. 2. As soon as the prestressing force of the compression spring 37 has been used up, the liquid container 19 can then be removed by hand from the inner bore 51 of the sleeve 27 and thus from the drum 3. The removed liquid container 19 comprises the dosing device 26, the tube 25, the sleeve 27, the O-ring 31 and the wick 17. The compression spring 37 remains, with the sealing ring 35, in the inner bore 51 since the right-hand end of the compression spring 37 has been pressed in slightly in the bore 52 of the sleeve 27. The other end of the compression spring 37 is seated in the bore 36 of the sealing ring 35, likewise with a small amount of prestressing, and thus also secures the sealing ring 35.

[0047] The removed liquid container 19 (not illustrated) can then be opened by the sleeve 27 being unscrewed from the thread 28. In this case, the O-ring 31 remains seated firmly in the groove 33 and thus cannot go missing. The same applies to the wick 17, which has been inserted in the bore 22 likewise under prestressing. This is also shown by the individual ribs 89 projecting in the bore 22. The tube 25 with its dosing device 26 can then be held under a faucet or a liquid-discharging location (not illustrated) and the tube 25 can be filled with a liquid via the freed through-passage bore 59. The sleeve 27 is then screwed to the tube 25 again until such time as the O-ring 31 butts in a pressure-tight manner against the free end 32 of the tube 25 and liquid can thus only pass outward via the wick 17.

[0048] 2. Insertion of the Liquid Container 19 into the Hair-Shaping Appliance 1:

[0049] The liquid-filled liquid container 19, according to FIG. 1, is inserted into the inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39 with the wick 17 in front, it being necessary to ensure that the stub or stubs 77 engages/engage in the guide grooves 75. In this position, the liquid container 19 is not initially rotatable. The liquid container 19 is then pushed into the insulating sleeve 39 to the extent where the stub or stubs 77 strikes/strike against the ramp or ramps 79. Upon further displacement of the liquid container 19 in the direction X, said container is then automatically rotated counter to the direction of rotation U by the stubs 77 sliding up the ramp 79. When the liquid container 19 is pushed into the insulating sleeve 39, first of all the end surface 34 of the sleeve 27 strikes against the end surface 34 of the sealing ring 35 and, upon further displacement of the liquid container 19 in the direction X, the sealing ring 35 is then carried along to the right and the compression spring 37 is prestressed in the process. It should be noted, at this stage, that two bayonet closures 74 may be formed diametrically opposite one another, for better centering of the liquid container 19, in the insulating sleeve 39.

[0050] Once the liquid container 19, then, has been rotated to a sufficient extent, and the compression spring 37 has also been prestressed to a correspondingly high level, the manual force acting on the liquid container 19 can then decrease to the extent where the force of the compression spring 37 displaces the liquid container 19 counter to the direction X again until the stub 77 engages behind the blocking protuberance 82 and strikes against the stop surface 81 in the process. The position of the liquid container 19 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 has been reached and the hair-shaping appliance 1 is then ready for operation.

[0051] 3. Operation of the Hair-Shaping Appliance According to the Invention During the Discharge of Steam:

[0052] Once a valve device, which is not illustrated in the drawing, has been rotated into its open position by hand, gas flows into the catalyst 8 and it is likewise possible, via a further ignition button (not illustrated in the drawing), for the ignition device (which is not illustrated either) to be ignited. On account of an explosion, first of all the ignition filaments 9 achieve their operating temperature, i.e. they begin to ignite by the flame-free combustion. This high temperature is then transmitted to the catalyst 8, which is activated in this way. The evaporator plate 4 is then heated until the control rod 10 cuts back the gas feed. The desired operating temperature at the evaporator plate 4 is then automatically controlled by the control rod 10 by virtue of the valve device being opened and closed. The heat discharged from the catalyst also penetrates, via the openings 6 (FIGS. 2 and 4), into the steam-distributing space 87 formed between the evaporator plate 4 and the bore 42 of the drum 3, with the result that the bore 42, and thus the drum 3, is also heated. The combustion gases produced in the catalyst 8 are likewise delivered, via the openings 6, into the steam-distributing space 87 and, from there, to the outside via the through-passages 2. This operation takes place until such time as the hair-shaping appliance is sufficiently hot.

[0053] A user can then pick up the hair-shaping appliance 1 via its handle, which is not illustrated in the drawing but is formed on the right-hand side of the hair-shaping appliance 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 4, and move it toward his/her head, the clamp 67 first of all being pivoted open and hair being positioned in the resulting gap 73, it then being possible for said hair to be wound around the outer lateral surface 66 of the drum 3.

[0054] A user can then use a finger of his/her other hand (not illustrated) to press on the base 60 of the dosing device 26 until such time as the liquid container 19 is displaced in the direction X counter to the force of the compression spring 37. In this actuating position, the base 60 of the diaphragm hardly deforms at all since the deformation force which is necessary for deforming the base 60 is greater than the force which is necessary for compressing the compression spring 37. This means that first of all the liquid container 19 is displaced in the direction X, counter to the compressive force of the compression spring 37, until such time as the stub 77 strikes against the boundary surface 86 of the recess 78, as can clearly be seen in FIG. 4 in particular.

[0055] If force then continues to be applied to the base 60 of the dosing device 26, the base 60 deforms into the through-passage bore 59 of the tube 25, although this is not illustrated in the drawing. With this deformation of the base 60, the liquid located in the liquid container 19 is then forced through the wick 17, with the result that liquid in the form of droplets (not illustrated) passes out at the free end 20. Since there is only a very small distance b between the free end 20 of the wick 17 and the evaporator surface 16 in this position (FIG. 3)—said distance being approximately 1 to 5 mm—the droplet comes into contact with the evaporator surface 16, and can thus evaporate, before it can drop off. If the base 60 is pressed firmly enough for a plurality of liquid droplets to pass out at the free end 20 of the wick 17, then the evaporator chamber 14 is filled to a greater or lesser extent with liquid. The liquid can then partially or wholly evaporate, provided that pressure continues to be applied to the base 60 of the dosing device 26.

[0056] The steam formed in the evaporator chamber 14, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, is then guided into the annular chamber 53, from where it penetrates the annular felt element 47. Water droplets are restrained by the felt element or wick 47. It is also the case that steam and water cannot pass into the annular space 55, which is open to the atmosphere, since the sealing ring 35 is sealed in relation to the inner bore 51 and the sleeve 27. Once the steam has penetrated the felt element 47, it passes into the steam-distributing space 87, is heated up there again and leaves the through-passages 2 in the outward direction together with the combustion gases. This steam penetrates into a user's hair, heats the hair and, at the same time, wets it in order that it can be shaped to better effect.

[0057] As soon as the pressure on the base 60 of the dosing device 26 decreases, and said pressure is then smaller than the force applied by the compression spring 37, the liquid container 19 is displaced to the left, counter to the direction X, until, in turn, the stub 77 strikes against the stop surface 81. When the force is removed from the base 60, the base deforms again into the starting position illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, that is to say a negative pressure is produced in the chamber 24 of the liquid container 19 and ensures that the excess liquid in the wick 17 and/or in the evaporator chamber 14, that is to say liquid which has not yet been converted into steam, is sucked back into the chamber 24 via the wick 17. This avoids any more liquid being evaporated than is desired by a user.

[0058] This is because, via the actuation of the base 60 of the dosing device 26, it is very difficult to meter the precise quantity of water which is to be evaporated in the evaporator chamber 14. For this reason, it is possible, if too much liquid has passed into the evaporator chamber 14, for example, on account of excessively pronounced actuation of the base 60 and/or of the dosing device 26, for said liquid to be sucked back abruptly into the chamber 24 of the liquid container 19 again via the wick 17. In this case, the steam delivery is adjusted in an abrupt manner. This produces a hair-shaping appliance 1 with very economical water consumption for producing steam.

[0059] It is also the case that it is no longer possible when the hair-shaping appliance 1 is not in use, that is to say when the hair-shaping appliance 1 is not used for a relatively long period of time, for the liquid which is still located in the chamber 24 of the liquid container 19 to run out of the latter and pass out as non-evaporated water at the through-passages 2 or even to be able to pass to the catalyst 8 via the openings 6. This is because the latter possibility would render the next ignition operation difficult, or would even make it impossible to activate the catalyst 8, because, for this purpose, an excessively high level of ignition energy would be necessary in order first of all to drive the liquid out of the catalyst 8.

[0060] According to the invention, it is thus not possible for the liquid to run out of the liquid container 19 because the dosing device 26 closes the liquid container 19 with sealing action and liquid can only run out via the wick 17 when the dosing device 26 is actuated and at the same time, during the return stroke, air flows into the liquid container 19 via the wick 17. Since, however, the wick 17 is dimensioned such that, in the pressure-free state, no air can penetrate into the chamber 24 via the same, it is not possible either for any liquid to run out of the liquid container 19 without external action.

[0061] When the liquid tank 19 is displaced, the base 60 is merely subjected to an axially directed force applied by hand, with the result that rotation and thus the possibility of the liquid container 19 dropping out of the hair-shaping appliance 1 when the force is released are barely possible. The maximum displacement of the liquid container 19 is provided by the distance a between the stop surface 81 and the boundary surface 86. This precisely defines the minimum distance b between the free end 20 of the wick 17 and the evaporator surface 16 (FIG. 3).

[0062] It should also be mentioned that the evaporator surface 16 is provided with a stub-like elevation 88, of which the average diameter d is smaller than the diameter of the free end 20 of the wick 17 (FIG. 1). Furthermore, the stub-like elevation 88 is also rounded at its free end in order thus for the wick 17 to be subjected to the action of as little heat as possible. This increases the service life of the wick 17. The stub-like elevation 88 also advantageously serves to provide the largest possible evaporator surface 16, by means of which the largest possible quantity of steam can be produced in a comparatively short period of time.

[0063] Once a curl (not illustrated) has been sufficiently subjected to the action of steam and heat, and has thus achieved a comparatively stable form, the clamp 67 can be opened by hand again and the curled sections of hair can be removed from the hair-shaping appliance. The operation can then be repeated on further sections of hair. 

1. A hair-shaping appliance (1), in particular steam styling tongs, having a tubular drum (3) which treats the hair and is provided with through-passages (2), having a heating device (12) and having a dosing device (26), upon the actuation of which liquid passes out of an outlet (18) of a liquid container (19) via a liquid-channeling device (17), and having an evaporating device (13) which is supplied with heat by the heating device (12) and evaporates the passed-out liquid into steam, which is fed to a steam-distributor chamber (87) and, there, flows outward at the through-passages (2), characterized in that, as a result of the actuation of the dosing device (26), excess liquid which may be present in the evaporator chamber (14), before the next actuation of the dosing device (26) in each case, to remove from the evaporator chamber (14) again and to convey back into the liquid container (19).
 2. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the dosing device (26) comprises, on the one hand, a pressure/suction pump (26) operating in accordance with the displacement principle and, on the other hand, the liquid container (19), which can only be brought into connection with the atmosphere via its outlet (18), with the result that during the return stroke of the pressure/suction pump (26) excess liquid flows back into the liquid container (19) again, in reverse, via the liquid-channeling device (17).
 3. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the evaporating device (13) comprises an evaporator surface (16) which is located opposite the outlet (18), and in that the evaporator surface (16) is part of an evaporator chamber (14) which receives and discharges the liquid.
 4. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the liquid-channeling device (17) comprises a wick (17) which is fastened in the outlet (18) and of which the free end (20) terminates at a small distance in front of the evaporator surface (16) when liquid is discharged or received.
 5. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the wick (17) can transport both water and air in both directions of flow.
 6. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the free end (23) of the wick (17) projects into the liquid container (19).
 7. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claims 3 and 5, characterized in that, for discharging liquid, the free end (20) of the wick (17) is only spaced apart from the evaporator surface (16) by the extent (b) such that the quantity of liquid discharged during actuation of the pressure/suction pump (26) is sufficient in order to form a droplet large enough, at the free end (20) of the wick (17), to produce contact with the evaporator surface (16).
 8. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the dosing device (26) and the chamber (24) of the liquid container (19) form a piston/cylinder arrangement.
 9. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the dosing device (26) comprises an elastically deformable wall (60) which forms part of the liquid container (19).
 10. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the liquid container (19) can be displaced in the axial longitudinal direction of the hair-shaping appliance (1), counter to the force of a compression spring (37), in an insulating sleeve (39) fastened in the drum (3), in that the outlet (18) with its liquid-channeling device (17) is formed at that end of the liquid container (19) which is located opposite the evaporator surface (16), and the deformable wall (60) is formed at the other, remote end of the liquid container (19), and in that a marked deformation of the elastically deformable wall (60) is only possible when the liquid container (19), once displaced, moves against a stop (86).
 11. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the elastically deformable wall (60) is arranged in a removable manner on the housing of the liquid container (19).
 12. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that at least one stub (77) projects on the outer surface (54) of the liquid container (19) and, following the insertion of the liquid container (19), engages in a bayonet-like manner behind a recess (78) formed on the insulating sleeve (39), and in that the recess (78) is adjoined by a gap (85) which runs in the longitudinal direction of the insulating sleeve (39) and allows further displacement of the liquid container (19) in the direction of the evaporator surface (16).
 13. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the base (27, 17) of the liquid container (19) is formed by a sleeve (27) provided with the outlet (18), in that the liquid-channeling device (17) is fastened in the outlet (18) and projects out of the sleeve (27), and in that the sleeve (27) is fastened releasably on a tube (25) of the liquid container (19) by means of a second releasable connection (28), preferably a bayonet closure or thread (28).
 14. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that formed on the outer wall of the sleeve (27) is a stop (34) on which the compression spring (37) is supported on one side, and in that formed on the inner wall of the insulating sleeve (39) is a base (38) on which the other side of the compression spring (37) is supported.
 15. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that mounted on the external diameter of the compression spring (37) is a sealing ring (35), of which one end butts with sealing action against an end surface (34) of the sleeve (27) and the other end butts with sealing and sliding action against the inner wall of the insulating sleeve (39).
 16. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the insulating sleeve (39) is introduced into the drum (3) to such an extent that a steam-permeable ring, preferably a felt element (47), is clamped in between the free end of the insulating sleeve (39) and the end side (48) of an evaporator chamber (14) formed by the evaporator plate (4), with the result that the steam produced in the evaporator chamber (14) can only pass into the steam-distributor chamber (87) via the steam-permeable ring (47). 